Many believe the work should be financed by the 'public purse'. [=should be paid for by the government]
Companies are expected to 'loosen the purse strings' as the economy improves.
School administrators are already 'tightening (the) purse strings'.
(..) before we all get soaked? Does anybody have a pen? ...Mom? ...Oh, yeah, sure. Man: Go on, check your purse. Darlin'... These things don't just happen, you know. Can't ride two horses with one ass, sugar bean. (..)2002 Sweet Home Alabama
(..) goin' places! Well, I am as soon as I get my keys out of here. Oh, no, you don't. No, you don't, Mel. ...Give me my purse! ...You want to kill yourself? You want to kill yourself, you do it somewhere else. At least I'm doin' somethin' with my life. (..)2002 Sweet Home Alabama